Dog survives attack by group of coyotes in Waltham backyard
WALTHAM - A young dog survived being attacked by four to five coyotes in Waltham. The incident comes as local animal control departments warn that coyote mating season is here, and the animals will be more present.
Cocoa's parents were on vacation with the husband's son William Leahy watching the little pooch. There was heavy snowfall this past weekend, but it didn't stop William from taking the dog out for a walk in the backyard.
"This (chair blocking the steps to the backyard) was opened enough for Cocoa to run into the yard. [William] didn't know until he heard the dog from the back of the yard yelp," said William's mother Wendy Leahy.
Dog was in coyote's mouth
She says William didn't even have time to get his boots on. He sprinted through the snow in his socks as he chased the yelps. The entire time he was screaming Cocoa's name. He eventually made it to the beginning of the woods in the backyard.
"There sat three coyotes looking at him, but none of them had Cocoa," said Leahy. "He looked them in the eye, ran past them, and saw the next coyote sitting with Cocoa in his mouth limp."
The fourth coyote was on the other side of a ravine holding the dog in his mouth. William let out one last yell.
"Like a lion guttural roar calling Cocoa's name! Boom, the dog ran through his legs into the yard," explained Leahy. "He's got mainly puncture wounds, two deep ones. One in the neck and one on his back so they had to be stitched up."
The dog will be heading to the veterinarian for more treatment, but he is expected to be OK and is already walking around.
